diff --git a/meta/recipes-core/meta/cve-update-db-native.bb b/meta/recipes-core/meta/cve-update-db-native.bb
index a6144979f0..594bf947c8 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-core/meta/cve-update-db-native.bb
+++ b/meta/recipes-core/meta/cve-update-db-native.bb
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ deltask do_compile
 deltask do_install
 deltask do_populate_sysroot
 
+# CVE database update interval, in seconds. By default: once a day (24*60*60).
+# Use 0 to force the update
+CVE_DB_UPDATE_INTERVAL ?= "86400"
+
 python () {
     if not bb.data.inherits_class("cve-check", d):
         raise bb.parse.SkipRecipe("Skip recipe when cve-check class is not loaded.")
@@ -43,10 +47,15 @@ python do_fetch() {
             os.remove(db_file)
 
     # The NVD database changes once a day, so no need to update more frequently
+    # Allow the user to force-update
     try:
         import time
-        if time.time() - os.path.getmtime(db_file) < (24*60*60):
+        update_interval = int(d.getVar("CVE_DB_UPDATE_INTERVAL"))
+        if (update_interval < 0):
+            update_interval = 0
+        if time.time() - os.path.getmtime(db_file) < update_interval:
             return
+
     except OSError:
         pass